Govt Clamps Down on ‘Blue Whale’ Game; PIL Filed in Delhi HC

Government has directed internet majors to immediately remove links of dangerous online game Blue Whale Challenge

Before jumping to his death, Sarath deleted data from his mobile phone. This has raised the suspicion whether his suicide had anything to do with the Blue Whale Challenge.

(Photo: The Quint/Rythum Seth)

Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Centre has taken tough steps to curb the dangerous online game, the ‘Blue Whale Challenge’.

“Under Indian IT ecosystem no initiative will be permitted that provokes young boys to commit suicide,” he said. He appealed to all IT platforms to abide by directions given by the IT ministry.

Government had earlier on Tuesday directed internet majors – Google, Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Microsoft and Yahoo – to immediately remove the links of a dangerous online game Blue Whale Challenge, which has led to the suicide of children in India and other countries.

Instances of children committing suicide while playing Blue Whale Challenge have been reported in India...You are hereby requested to ensure that any such link of this deadly game in its own name, or similar game, is immediately removed from your platform

Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity)

The letter was issued following instructions from Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, an official source said.

Also Read: Cops Probe Possible Blue Whale Link in B’luru Student’s Suicide

PIL Filed to Take Down ‘Blue Whale’ Links Online

A PIL was moved in Delhi High Court seeking directions to internet companies like Google, Facebook and Yahoo to take down the links of 'Blue Whale', a challenge-based suicide game that has been allegedly linked to deaths of several children worldwide.

The petition was mentioned before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shanker, which listed it for hearing on Thursday.

Citing deaths of children in India and abroad, advocate Gurmeet Singh, who filed the petition, sought immediate directions to restrain the internet majors from uploading any material pertaining to the Blue Whale Challenge.

He also sought direction to the Delhi Police to appoint a special team comprising at least five members to oversee whether the internet companies comply with the court's direction.

The Blue Whale challenge is reportedly a suicide game in which the player is given certain tasks to complete for a period of 50 days, and the final task leads to suicide. The player is also asked to share photos after finishing the challenge.

It is understood that an administrator of the game uses a social media platform to invite /incite children to play this game, which may eventually lead them to take extreme steps for self-inflicting injuries, including suicide.

Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity)

Mumbai and West Midnapore district have reported deaths linked to this game.

Meity said the proponent of Blue Whale Challenge should be reported to law enforcement agencies.

(With PTI inputs.)